Extension-table.



PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907. H. F. HOLTMANN.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION TILED APB. 18,1906.

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UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

HENRY F. HOLTMANN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SENG COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed April 16 1906- Serial No. 312063.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. HOLTMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain Improvements in Extension-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in extension tables, and has particular reference to that class which are provided with a pedestal made in two sections for the purpose of supporting the ends of the table when the latter is extended, and which sections when the table is closed come together or meet and form an ornamental central pillar or pedestal.

In this class of tables the pedestal sections do not always meet intimately to form a close joint, particularly after the table has been used to some extent; and in such instance there is left an unsightly crack or crevice, especially at the lower part of the pedestal where the sections thereof have a tendency to spread.

It is the purpose of my invention, therefore, to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive means for drawing the pedestal sec-- tions closely together when the table is closed, such means being operated by the act of closing the table and are adjustable to adapt them to varying conditions.

The invention consists in the particular construction and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter described. and specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof: Figure 1 is a sectional view through an extension table of the pedestal type, showing the application of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a fixture hereinafter referred to. Fig. 3 is a detail of a form of adjustable fulcrum.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawing.

My invention is applied to any of the usual styles of extension tables comprising a central or divided pedestal. In such tables there is provided the top pieces or leaves 1, the usual slides 2, the cross-piece 3 to which the central leg 4 is secured, and the crosspieces 5 to which the pedestal sections 6 are secured, said latter cross-pieces being attached to the slides, as is usual.

In carrying out my invention I employ two oppositely arranged levers 7, which are fulcrumed 0n the cross-pieces 5, and are connected to draw-rods 8 securedto the pedestal sections, respectively, at a suitable distance below the upper ends thereof, the free end of each lever being adapted to ride upon a fixture 9 mounted upon the opposite cross pieces 5, whereby said levers through the medium of the draw-rods will act to draw the pedestal sections closely together.

In the present instance, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the operating levers 7 are fulcrumed by means of a thumb-screw 10, which extends upward through the crosspieee 5, and is threaded through a plate 11 secured upon the upper side of said crosspiece, the projecting end of the screw having an annular recess 12 which receives the bifurcated end 13 of the lever. By this arrangement the plane of the fulcrum with re spect to the engaging surface of the fixture 9 may be changed by simply turnin the screw, and of course it will be understood that when the table is closed the turning of this screw will properly set the parts to close the crack or crevice which may exist. The lever is preferably made up of a flat bar and one end is given a twist or quarter-turn so that the body portion thereof will be disposed vertically while the bifurcated end is horizontal to engage the adjusting-screw. the lever is beveled, as at 14, so as to prop erly engage and ride upon the fixture 9. The draw-rod 8 is also preferably formed of a flat metal bar and twisted or given a quarterturn at its lower end to bear flatly against the inner side of the pedestal section and so that its upper end may lie against one side of the lever, to which it is pivoted by means of a pin 15, the lever being provided with several perforations to allow for any necessary adjustment. The fixture 9 is, in the present instance, simply a U-shaped plate, which is The free end of secured to the cross-piece by means of an ordinary wood-screw 16, said plate providing a curved upper surface upon which the lever rides as the table is closed.

It will be seen that the devices constituting the invention may be conveniently and readily attached to any of the usual makes of pedestal extension tables, and consisting of but few parts will not add materially to the cost of such tables.

The operation will be readily understood by reference to the drawing, for simultaneously with the operation of closing the table the free ends of the oppositely disposed levers on the pedestal sections will ride upon the companion fixtures 9 and being elevated thereby will through the intervention of the rods. 8 draw upon the pedestal sections so I that they will properly meet and form a close joint; the extent to which the free ends of the levers are elevated being governed by the adjustment of the fulcrum.

It will be understood that the purpose of l the devices is to bring the meeting edges of the pedestal sections on vertical parallel lines, so that when said sections are brought together there will be a close joint from top to bottom of the pedestal, thereby entirely obviating the unsightly gradually widening crack common in this class of tables and. due to more or less spreading of the pedestal sections.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as.new and desire to secure by Let ters-Patent, is

1. In a pedestal extension table, the combination with the pedestal sections and bridge pieces thereon, of a rod secured to each pedestal section, a lever pivoted to each rod so as to extend at opposite sides thereof and bifurcated at its outer end, a thumbscrew adjustable in each bridge-piece and having an annular recess engaging the bifurcated end of the lever thereabove, and a projection on each pedestal section upon which the inner end of the lever of the opposite pedestal-section rides when the pedestal sections are brought together.

2. In a pedestal extension table, the combination with the pedestal sections and bridge-pieces thereon, of a rod secured to each pedestal section, a lever connected to each of said rods so as to extend at opposite sides thereof and bifurcated at its outer end, a plate secured to the bridge-piece of each of said pedestal sections and having a screwthreaded opening therein, a thumb-screw threaded in each of said plates and having an annular groove which engages the bifurcated l end of the lever thereabove, and a projection on each pedestal section upon whlch the inner end of the lever of the opposite pedestalsection rides when the pedestal sections are brought together.

3. In a pedestal extension table, the combination with the pedestal sections and bridge-pieces thereon, of a lever mounted above each of the pedestal sections and beveled at its inner end and at its outer end horizontally disposedand bifurcated, a rod connected to an intermediate portion of each lever and to each pedestal section, a plate mounted upon each of the bridge-pieces below the outer end of the lever carried thereby, a thumb-screw threaded throu h each of the plates and having an ann ar recess which engages the bifurcated end of the lever thereabove, and a projection on each pedestal section upon which the inner beveled end of the lever carried by the opposite pedestalsection rides, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony name to this specification in the presence two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY F. HOLTMANN.

whereof I have signed myf Witnesses:

G. G. STARK, MILDRED H. FASSOLD. 

